grit for chicks?

[miniwarrior]

Hi- I know a few people have already asked about grit, but I couldn't find the answer to this on the other threads. I was wondering- when chicks are little (mine are 2 weeks) is it okay to use dirt as grit? I put some dirt in their pen and it had ants in it- they went wild! Should I go get some sand or are they okay with the chick starter and the dirt?
Thanks a bunch!

 

[kstaven]

Chick starter already has grit in it. No need to add any more.

 

[Rickelpickel]

wow I didn't know it already had grit in it I've been adding grit since day one . 10 to 1 Feed to grit. :|

 

[hinkjc]

I never add extra grit as long as the chicks are only eating chick starter.

Jody

 

[SillyChick]

Yes, their food should have grit. If you need more grit as they grow old, you can let them outside and they will eat small rocks. You can also crush small rocks into smaller pieces with a hammer.

LOL on the ants!

Chicks are indeed very fun to have!

Good luck!

 

[Rickelpickel]

I didn't hurt them by giving them grit w/ their starter did I? I wont mix it in with starter anymore... They seem fine. 17 chicks are eating an entire mason jar of food a day....

 

[hinkjc]

I don't think it will hurt them, although I've heard that some chicks may consume too much and not eat enough feed which they need for nutrition.

Jody

 

[sweetshoplady]

Thanks SillyChick for putting my mind at ease about my rock eating hen. Glad to know its normal and ok. I guess small pieces of shell are ok too as there's a lot of that in my driveway.

 

[miniwarrior]

Thanks for all the posts! So, is the little bin of dirt okay in their pen? I don't thing they are eating it- now that they finished off the ants they are just enjoying laying in it so I figured they are eating their food like they should...